Containers having a portioned amount of cleaning composition; methods for cleaning residue from beverage making machines

ABSTRACT

Containers having a portioned amount of a cleaning composition located in an internal volume are provided for cleaning a portion of a beverage making machine. The external size and configuration of the container is designed to fit within a carrier in a single (or multi-) serve beverage making machine. The container is insertable in the carrier in the place of a beverage making pod, cup, cartridge or the like. Following placement of the container in the carrier, the beverage making machine may be operated to perform a regular brew cycle or a specialized cleaning cycle in which water is introduced to the internal volume of the container and cleaning solution is released from the container, optionally under pressure, to contact and clean internal surfaces of the container carrier.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/884,800, filed Jul. 10, 2013. The priority application isincorporated by reference in this application in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to containers having a portioned amountof a cleaning composition provided in an internal volume. In one aspect,the present disclosure relates to a container having a cleaningcomposition that provides cleaning solution upon the introduction ofwater to clean portions of the machine. In another aspect, methods forcleaning residue from beverage making machines using a container havinga portioned amount of cleaning composition are provided.

BACKGROUND

Single use or re-usable cartridge-type containers that retain a materialsuch as coffee or tea in an internal volume are used in many differenttypes of beverage brewing systems, and particularly in single servingbeverage brewing systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189 discloses an exemplarybeverage filter cartridge, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,079,315, 6,182,554,6,655,260 and 6,644,173 disclose various types of beverage filtercartridge holders. Water is typically introduced to the container duringa brew cycle at the top of the container (e.g., by piercing a cover),and the brewed beverage is released from the bottom of the container.The brewing container or cartridge is typically inserted in a carrier ora recess in the brewing machine during a brewing cycle and removed fromthe recess following completion of the brewing cycle or prior toinitiation of a new brewing cycle.

Residue tends to build up in the recess where the brewing container orcartridge is inserted and along the walls and exit port of the carrierwhere the beverage contacts and exits the brewer. This residue mayeventually cause clogging of the system. The residue remaining fromprevious beverage making cycles may furthermore taint or contaminate theflavor of beverages made subsequently, particularly when differentbeverage types or flavors are made using the same system. The residuemay also produce or encourage accumulation of contaminants in thecarrier, which may be introduced to beverages during subsequent beveragemaking cycles and unintentionally ingested.

Some coffee brewers recommend use of a cleaning cycle wherein theoperator loads a cleaning substance such as vinegar into the waterreservoir or elsewhere in the brewer. The cleaning compositioncirculates to dissolve residual material from the interior of the brewercomponents that it contacts and is evacuated from the system. Methodsfor cleaning coffee machines using a cleaning composition in tabletformat introduced to the water tank of a coffee machine are known andare described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,429. Sachetscontaining a unit dose of a water soluble cleaning composition thatdissolves quickly, increasing the efficiency of the cleaning operation,are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication US 2005/0245416. U.S. PatentPublication 2006/0201329 discloses a method for cleaning a beveragemaking device by assembling a packet having cleaning agent rather thancoffee and then running a brewing cycle. The packet is assembled using arectangular filter sheet that is folded over to envelop the grounds orother beverage or cleaning composition.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a container having a pre-determined orpre-portioned amount of a cleaning composition provided in an internalvolume. In some embodiments, the cleaning composition is retained in theinternal volume of the container itself with no intermediate containmentstructure. In some embodiments, the pre-determined or pre-portionedamount of cleaning composition is retained in a containment structure,such as an insert, provided in an internal volume of the container. Insome embodiments, the predetermined or pre-portioned amount of cleaningcomposition is positioned as desired within the internal volume of thecontainer by means of a support or baffle.

The cleaning composition may be in a powder or granular form, or inanother solid form that, upon the addition of an aqueous solution,dissolves (fully or partially) to provide a cleaning solution.Alternatively, the cleaning composition may be in a gel or semi-solid orliquid form that, upon addition of an aqueous solution or a vapor,provides a cleaning solution having the desired properties. One or moreperforations or holes are preferably provided in the container, allowinga cleaning liquid to escape from the containment structure during acleaning cycle. Container products as disclosed herein thus comprise acontainer having an internal volume with a pre-determined or portionedamount of cleaning composition contained in the internal volume and oneor more perforations in the container. A cover or lid is typicallyprovided for purposes of convenience to enclose, and optionally seal,the cleaning composition within the container.

The container has a size and configuration designed to fit within acarrier in a beverage making machine that typically retains a cartridgeor pod or another device containing material (e.g., coffee, tea, hotchocolate, etc.) for making a beverage upon addition of water during abeverage making cycle. In one exemplary embodiment, containers asdisclosed herein have an external configuration that substantiallymatches, or that fits within, a carrier in a single or multi-servebeverage making machine (e.g., a beverage brewer) and are insertableinto a carrier member of the beverage making machine in the place of abeverage-making cartridge or pod or cup. In various embodiments, theexternal configuration of containers disclosed herein may generally fitwithin a carrier for receiving beverage-making cups or cartridges (e.g.,coffee or tea or hot chocolate “pods”) containing a beverage-makingmaterial designed to fit in Keurig brewers (e.g., K-CUP® containers);LAVAZZA® brewers; NESPRESSO® brewers; STARBUCKS® single serve brewers,CAFITALLY® single serve brewers, TASSIMO® brewers, and the like.

In use, containers with cleaning composition(s) as described herein areplaced in a carrier of a beverage making (e.g., brewing) machine wherebeverage making cups or cartridges are typically placed during abeverage making cycle. Following placement of the cleaning container,the brewing machine may be operated to perform a regular beverage makingcycle or a specialized cleaning cycle. During this cycle, water isintroduced into the internal volume of the cleaning container and thecleaning composition is dissolved or diluted in the water to provide acleaning solution. The cleaning solution is released from the container,generally under pressure, through one or more perforations or holesprovided in the container.

As cleaning solution is released from the container during a cleaningcycle, the cleaning solution contacts the internal surface(s) of thecontainer carrier, cleaning residue that tends to accumulate duringbeverage making cycles. The cleaning solution typically exits thecontainer carrier through one or more ports at the bottom of thecarrier, cleaning internal surfaces of the beverage exit port(s) aswell. During a cleaning operation, the cleaning solution travelsgenerally the same path as beverages made during a beverage makingcycle, thus cleaning oils, residue, particulate materials, and otherundesired materials produced during beverage making cycles and depositedon internal surfaces of the container carrier and exit port(s). Thecleaning solution may be collected in a cup or another receptacle placedbelow the exit port(s) and discarded following completion of thecleaning cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings provided with this application show sketches illustratingvarious aspects of the devices described herein. These figures areintended to illustrate various concepts and various ways of implementingthose concepts; they are not intended to illustrate definitive orlimiting embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1A shows a side view and FIG. 1B shows a top perspective view of anexemplary container as disclosed that contains a pre-determined amountof a cleaning composition; FIG. 1C shows a cut-away side viewillustrating cleaning composition positioned in a lower portion of aninternal container volume; FIG. 1D shows a cut-away side viewillustrating cleaning composition positioned above a lower portion of aninternal container volume; FIG. 1E shows a cut-away side viewillustrating cleaning composition retained in a pouch-like barrierpositioned in an internal volume; and FIG. 1F shows a cut-away side viewillustrating a tablet or solid-form cleaning composition positioned in alower portion of an internal container volume.

FIG. 2A shows a top perspective view and FIG. 2B shows a side view of anoptional internal container that fits within the outer container ofFIGS. 1A and 1B and may hold a pre-determined amount of a cleaningcomposition. FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the internal containerof FIGS. 2A and 2B, cut-away to illustrate an amount of a cleaningcomposition in the internal container.

FIG. 3A shows an exploded side view and FIG. 3B shows an exploded topperspective view of a container, (optional) internal container and lidas they fit together to provide a cleaning capsule or cartridge asdescribed herein.

FIG. 4A shows an exploded top perspective view of the components of acleaning capsule or cartridge as described herein and a carrier thecapsule or cartridge is inserted into during a cleaning operation. FIG.4B shows a schematic, top perspective view of the cleaning capsule asdescribed herein inserted in a carrier (partially broken away) toillustrate a liquid cleaning composition being ejected from perforationsin the cleaner capsule during a cleaning operation.

DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, container products as described herein comprise acontainer that is generally impermeable to liquids and that has apredetermined external size and configuration designed to be received ina carrier of a beverage-making system. In many embodiments, the externalconfigurations of container products described and claimed hereingenerally match an external configuration of beverage-making containers(e.g., pods, cups, capsules, and the like) and fit within a carrier of abeverage-making system in much the same way the beverage-makingcontainer fits within the carrier. In some embodiments, the externalconfiguration of container products described herein may be differentthan that of corresponding beverage-making containers to provide greaterflow, or optimized flow, of cleaning solution to internal surfaces ofthe carrier.

FIGS. 1A-1F schematically illustrate a container 10 as described hereinhaving an external cup-shaped configuration with sidewall(s) 12 having a(slightly) tapered cylindrical configuration, bottom wall 14 enclosing alower portion of the container and an upper rim 16 extending around thecircumference of the container. Container 10 and bottom wall 14 may beprovided as a unitary structure or may comprise two components(comprising the same or different materials) joined to one another. Itwill be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, containers may havecylindrical or polygonal sidewall(s), and may be deeper or shallowerthan illustrated to accommodate carriers having differentconfigurations.

Container 10 may be fabricated from a substantially liquid impermeablematerial such as a plastic material, a polymeric material, a metallicmaterial, a fibrous or particulate material bound with a waterproofresin, or other types of substantially liquid impermeable materials. Inalternative embodiments, container 10 may be fabricated from a materialhaving some liquid permeability, such as a fibrous orcellulosic-containing material having a substantially liquid impermeablecoating or layer, or being impregnated with a liquid impermeablecomposition providing a liquid impermeable barrier. The permeabilityproperties of the material forming container 10 are preferably such thatthe container side wall(s) 12 and bottom wall 14 are capable ofretaining an aqueous solution without leakage through the side wall(s)and bottom wall for the time required for a cleaning cycle, which isgenerally from about 5 sec to about 60 sec. In some embodiments, bottomwall 14 is fabricated from a material that is yieldably pierce-able toallow piercing by an outlet probe during a cleaning cycle, therebyreleasing cleaning solution through an outlet probe or a port providedby an outlet probe in the bottom wall of the container.

In some embodiments, container 10 is fabricated from a recyclablematerial, such as a recyclable metallic or plastic or polymeric orcellulosic-containing material. In some embodiments, container 10 isfabricated from a biodegradable and/or compostable material, such as afibrous or polymeric or cellulosic-containing material. In someembodiments, container 10 is provided as a single-use, disposableproduct; in other embodiments, container 10 is provided as a reusableproduct.

One or more perforations or holes or passages may be provided container10, allowing liquids introduced to the internal volume of container 10to escape from container 10. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1Aand 1B, perforations 18 are provided in sidewall(s) 12 of container 10.In some embodiments, perforations 18 may have the same or similardimensions and may be evenly spaced around a circumference ofsidewall(s) 12, as shown in FIG. 1B. In other embodiments, perforationsin sidewall(s) 12 may have different dimensions and may be unevenlydistributed around a circumference of sidewall(s) 12. In someembodiments, perforations 18 are located above a midline between bottomwall 14 and upper rim 16, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In otherembodiments, perforations 18 may additionally or alternatively beprovided below a midline between bottom wall 14 and upper rim 16, asshown in FIG. 1C. One or more perforation(s) may additionally oralternatively be provided in bottom wall 14 of container 10 to provide adesired distribution and volume of liquid from the internal volume ofthe container for a desired period of time.

Perforations 18 are shown as being generally round holes, but it will beappreciated that perforations, holes and passages having a variety ofconfigurations, such as round holes of different sizes, slots ofdifferent sizes, porous areas of different sizes and configurations, andthe like may be provided, and that various combinations of perforationconfigurations may be provided to ensure a desired distribution andvolume of liquid from the internal volume of the container for a desiredperiod of time. The size, number, spacing, etc. of perforations providedin any particular container 10 allows a desired volume of cleaningsolution to be released from the container over the desired time periodand will vary depending on the configuration of the carrier, the type ofbeverage making machine, the volume of water being used in a cleaningcycle, and the length of a cleaning cycle.

In some embodiments, container 10 has a portioned amount of a cleaningcomposition 20 provided in an internal volume of the container. FIG. 1Cillustrates cleaning composition 20, located in proximity to theinternal surface of bottom wall 14 of container 10. FIG. 1D illustratescleaning composition 20, located in proximity to an internal divider orbarrier 22 located above bottom wall 14. FIG. 1E illustrates cleaningcomposition 20 retained in a conical or pouch-like barrier 24 extendingdownwardly from an upper area of container 10. Internal structures suchas barriers 22 and 24 may be porous or non-porous, and may be fabricatedfrom a liquid impermeable material or a material, such as a paper orfibrous material, that permits at least some degree of liquidpenetration. FIG. 1F illustrates an alternative embodiment in whichcleaning tablet 26 is provided within the internal volume of container10. Cleaning tablet 26 may be provided in a solid, gel capsule or othersolid or semi-solid format that is readily dissolvable upon introductionof water.

It will be appreciated that cleaning composition 20 may be loaded andpositioned at various locations within container 10. In some embodimentsin which container 10 is provided as a reusable container, container 10may be provided without cleaning composition pre-loaded. In theseembodiments, a user may load a desired cleaning composition in container10, run a cleaning cycle, and re-fill container 10 with cleaningcomposition to operate additional cleaning cycles. Markings or otherindicia may be provided on container 10 indicating an appropriate filllevel for cleaning composition.

Cleaning composition 20, in general, may be provided in a powder,granular, or another solid form, or in a semi-solid, gel or liquid form.Preferred cleaning compositions are generally safe for use in systemsproducing beverages for human consumption. Various types of cleaningagents may be employed, as will be appreciated. Cleaning agents providedin a powder, granular or another solid form are preferably rapidlydissolvable in water to provide a cleaning solution that can escape fromthe internal volume of container 10 through one or more perforations ata desired cleaning composition concentration during a cleaning cycle ofthe beverage making system. Cleaning agents provided in a semi-solid,gel or liquid form may be provided in a concentrated format and, uponintroduction of water during a cleaning cycle, are preferably rapidlydiluted to provide a cleaning solution that escapes from the internalvolume of container 10 through one or more perforations at a desiredcleaning composition concentration. Cleaning compositions used inconnection with the methods and containers disclosed herein arepreferably non-toxic and environmentally harmless or benign.

In one embodiment, cleaning composition 20 comprises an oxidizing agentsuch as sodium percarbonate which, when dissolved in water, yields amixture of hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate and provides cleaning,bleaching, stain removal and/or deodorizing properties. Hydrogenperoxide decomposes to form water, oxygen and soda ash, which areenvironmentally benign. Additional soda ash may be used in combinationwith sodium percarbonate to provide additional stain and oil removalcapabilities, and to provide desired pH properties (generally neutral)of the cleaning composition. Additional and/or alternative cleaningcompositions may comprise sodium perborate, sodium tripolyphosphate,sodium metasilicate, trisodium phosphate, soda ash, and the like. Dyes,such as blue dye may be added. It will be appreciated that additional ordifferent cleaning compositions may be provided, and that stabilizers,preservative agents, dessicants, fragrances, modified atmosphere, or thelike may additionally be used in combination with or in conjunction withcleaning compositions as described herein.

In some embodiments, the portioned amount of cleaning composition 20provided in container 10 is sufficient, with the introduction of waterduring a cleaning cycle, to substantially fill the internal volume ofcontainer 10 with cleaning solution having the desired concentration andcleaning properties. In some embodiments, the portioned amount ofcleaning composition 20 provided in container 10 is sufficient, withintroduction of a predetermined volume of water during a cleaning cycle,to provide a volume of cleaning solution having the desiredconcentration and cleaning properties that is less than thepredetermined volume of water introduced during the cleaning cycle. Inthis embodiment, water introduced to the container during a cleaningcycle provides a desired volume of cleaning solution that is releasedduring initial stages of a cleaning cycle and, during latter stages ofthe cleaning cycle, the cleaning composition is spent and water flowsthrough the container substantially unchanged, providing a rinse.

In some embodiments, the amount of cleaning composition 20 provided incontainer 10 is sufficient, with the introduction of water during acleaning cycle, to produce a volume of cleaning solution correspondingto at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 75%, or at least 80% ofthe volume of water used in a cleaning cycle. In some embodiments, theamount of cleaning composition 20 provided in container 10 issufficient, with the introduction of water during a cleaning cycle, toproduce a volume of cleaning solution corresponding to less than 100%,or less than 90%, or less than 75%, or less than 50% of the volume ofwater used in a cleaning cycle. In some embodiments, the amount ofcleaning composition 20 provided in container 10 is sufficient, with theintroduction of water during a cleaning cycle, to provide at least about30 ml, or at least about 60 ml, or at least about 90 ml, or at leastabout 120 ml, or at least about 150 ml, or at least about 180 ml, or atleast about 200 ml of cleaning solution having the desired concentrationand cleaning properties. In some embodiments, the amount of cleaningcomposition 20 provided in container 10, upon introduction of waterduring a cleaning cycle, provides less than about 300 ml, or less thanabout 200 ml, or less than about 100 ml of cleaning solution having thedesired concentration and cleaning properties.

In one embodiment, an insert 30 may be provided and mounted or otherwiseheld within container 10 to provide an internal volume for retaining acleaning composition 20. Insert 30, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, hassidewall(s) 32 and a bottom wall 34 having a substantially similarconfiguration to those of container 10, but having smaller dimensions tofit within container 10. In some embodiments, an upper rim 36 of insert30 may be sized and configured to rest on an upper rim 16 of container10, or on a mating rim provided in container 10 at another locationbelow an upper rim. An amount of cleaning composition 20 may be providedin insert 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2C.

Insert 30 may be fabricated from a substantially liquid impermeablematerial such as a plastic material, a polymeric material, a metallicmaterial, or a fibrous or particulate material bound with a waterproofresin. In alternative embodiments, insert 30 may be fabricated from amaterial having some liquid permeability, such as a fibrous orcellulosic-containing material having a substantially liquid impermeablecoating or layer, or impregnated with a liquid impermeable compositionproviding a liquid impermeable barrier. In some embodiments, insert 30is fabricated from a recyclable material, while in other embodimentsinsert 30 is fabricated from a biodegradable material, such as a fibrousor cellulosic-containing material. Insert 30 may provide a substantiallysolid, liquid impermeable internal volume for retaining cleaningcomposition 20, or it may be perforated or fabricated from a porous ormesh-like material to provide liquid permeability to a desired degree.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate exploded views of a container device asdisclosed herein comprising container 10, insert 30 providing an amountof cleaning composition 20 in its internal volume and a cover 40. Acover may likewise be used to cover cleaning composition 20 in container10 when an insert is not used (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1C-1F). Cover 40generally provides a protective covering 40 to prevent loss of cleaningcomposition from the internal volume during shipping, storage and thelike, and may be attached or sealed to an upper rim of container 10and/or insert 30, or to an outer or inner surface of container 10 orinsert 30.

Cover 40 may be fabricated from a material that prevents escape ofcleaning composition from container 10. Cover 40 may additionally befabricated from a substantially liquid and/or gas impermeable material,thus preventing ingress, or egress, of liquids, gases, and moisture toor from the internal volume of container 10. In some embodiments, cover40 may be fabricated from a yieldably pierce-able material, such as aplastic or foil or coated or impregnated cellulosic or fibrous material,to allow piercing of the cover by probe during a cleaning cycle. Inalternative embodiments, cover 40 may be fabricated from a screen-likeor porous material that admits liquid to the internal volume of thecontainer without requiring piercing the cover. In yet otherembodiments, cover 40 may be incorporate or embody one or more holes orother entry accesses for introduction of liquids and passage of liquidto the internal volume.

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates a container 10, insert 30 containingcleaning composition 20 and cover 40 (exploded view) for insertion intoa container carrier 50. Container carrier 50 may be separate from andinsertable into a beverage making system, or container carrier 50 mayform a part of a beverage making system, such as a single serve beveragebrewing system.

In operation, a container having a portioned amount of a cleaningcomposition is inserted into a carrier of a beverage making system and abeverage making or specialized cleaning cycle in which water isintroduced to the container, generally under pressure. In some systems,the container cover is pierced and water is introduced through thepierced cover. As water accumulates in container 10, the cleaningcomposition is dissolved or diluted to provide a cleaning compositionhaving desired properties. When the volume and/or pressure of thecleaning composition is sufficient, liquid cleaning composition isreleased through perforations in container 10 in the form of streams orjets 45, as shown schematically in FIG. 4B. Because the sidewall(s) ofcontainer 30 are positioned in proximity to the interior walls ofcarrier 50, liquid cleaning composition (generally under some pressure)contacts the sidewalls of the carrier, preferably around thecircumference of the carrier, and travels along the sidewall(s) to oneor more exit ports at a bottom of the carrier, where it exits thebeverage making machine and may be collected in a cup or another vesseland discarded. In some embodiments, the portioned amount of cleaningcomposition is sufficient to provide a cleaning compositioncorresponding to less than 100% of the volume of water used during acleaning cycle, thereby providing distribution of cleaning compositionfollowed by distribution of water during a cleaning cycle, allowingrinsing of the carrier following a cleaning procedure.

Methods as disclosed herein are provided for cleaning residue from abeverage making machine or another system having a cartridge, capsule.insert or pod holder. In various embodiments, the methods involveproviding a container having an exterior configuration that fits withinthe cartridge (or capsule, insert or pod) holder and having a cleaningcomposition contained within the internal volume of the container.Suitable exterior container configurations, internal containerconfigurations and cleaning compositions are described above. A sealedand pierce-able cover is typically provided. In operation, a containerhaving a cleaning composition contained within an internal volume isplaced in a machine cartridge holder or recess and the machine isactivated to perform a beverage-making or cleaning cycle, introducingwater into the container.

Water is typically introduced into the container when a container coveris pierced and, upon or following introduction of water, cleaningsolution is released from the container (e.g., under pressure, throughone or more side wall perforations) and contacts the interior surface ofthe cartridge holder or recess. The cleaning solution typically drainsfrom the cartridge holder or recess sidewall(s) and exits the cartridgeholder through one or more exit ports, thereby cleaning both thecartridge holder sidewall(s) and exit ports. Cleaning solution may becollected in a receptacle placed beneath the exit ports and disposed of.In some embodiments, as described above, a volume of cleaningcomposition is provided that mixes with water to provide cleaningsolution during an initial portion of the cleaning cycle, whileunadulterated water is distributed through the container during a laterportion of the cycle to rinse the cartridge holder sidewall(s) and exitports following passage of cleaning solution.

In the description provided above, the term “about” means +/−20% of theindicated value or range unless otherwise indicated. The terms “a” and“an,” as used herein, refer to one or more of the enumerated componentsor items. The use of alternative language (e.g., “or”) will beunderstood to mean either one, both or any combination of thealternatives, unless otherwise expressly indicated. The terms “include”and “comprise” are used interchangeably and both of those terms, andvariants thereof, are intended to be construed as being non-limiting.

It will be appreciated that the methods and systems of the presentinvention may be embodied in a variety of different forms, and that thespecific embodiments shown in the FIGS. and described herein arepresented with the understanding that the present disclosure isconsidered exemplary of the principles of the invention, and is notintended to limit any claimed subject matter to the illustrations anddescription provided herein. The various embodiments described may becombined to provide further embodiments. The described devices, systems,methods and compositions may omit some elements or steps, add otherelements or steps, or combine the elements or execute steps in adifferent order than that specifically described.

We claim:
 1. A container having an external size and configurationdesigned to fit within a carrier for retaining a cartridge for making abeverage in a beverage making machine and having an internal volumecontaining a pre-determined amount of a cleaning composition.
 2. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the container additionally comprises acover enclosing the internal volume.
 3. The container of claim 2,wherein the cover is fabricated from a yieldably pierce-able material.4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container has one or moreperforations in a side wall or a bottom wall.
 5. The container of claim1, wherein the cleaning composition is provided in a solid, semi-solid,gel or liquid form.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the cleaningcomposition comprises an oxidizing agent.
 7. The container of claim 1,wherein the cleaning composition comprises sodium percarbonate.
 8. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the cleaning composition isenvironmentally benign.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein thepre-determined amount of the cleaning composition is sufficient toprovide a volume of cleaning solution having a desired concentrationthat is less than a volume of water introduced during a cleaning cycle.10. The container of claim 1, additionally comprising an insert forretaining the cleaning composition within the internal volume.
 11. Thecontainer of claim 1, additionally comprising an internal structure forsupporting the cleaning composition within the internal volume.
 12. Amethod for cleaning a beverage making system, comprising: inserting acontainer having an internal volume containing a pre-determined amountof a cleaning composition in a carrier of a beverage making system;causing water to be introduced to internal volume of the container toform a cleaning solution; and releasing the cleaning solution from theinternal volume of the container, thereby causing cleaning solution tocontact surfaces of the beverage making system carrier.
 13. The methodof claim 12, wherein water is introduced to the internal volume of thecontainer by initiation of a beverage making or cleaning cycle.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, wherein water is introduced to the internal volumeof the container under pressure.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein thecontainer additionally comprises a cover sealing the internal volume andadditionally comprising causing the container cover to be pierced priorto causing water to be introduced to the internal volume of thecontainer.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the container hasperforations and cleaning composition is released from the containerthrough the perforations.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein thepre-determined amount of the cleaning composition in the container issufficient to provide a cleaning composition corresponding to less than100% of the volume of water used during a cleaning cycle.
 18. A methodfor cleaning a carrier of a beverage making system, comprising:inserting a container having an internal volume containing apre-determined amount of a cleaning composition in the carrier of abeverage making system, and initiating a beverage-making or cleaningcycle that causes water to be introduced to the container.